GigaLaw Guide to Internet Law [Paperback]

Doug Isenberg (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0812991982 | ISBN-13: 978-0812991987 | Publication Date: October 22, 2002 | Edition: 1st. trade pbk. edn

Advance praise for The GigaLaw Guide to Internet Law

“I read this book from cover to cover. The examples of case law are of enormous illustrative value. Some of them will raise your blood pressure (well, mine went up several notches, anyway). Well worth the time to read!”
—Vint Cerf, chairman, Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)

“Doug Isenberg pulls off the toughest hat trick in legal writing—he and his contributing authors map out the legal landscape of cyberspace in language accessible and friendly to lay readers, providing a comprehensive guide for lawyers who want to gain a quick grasp of cyberlaw, and they do all this with scholarly care for accuracy and precision.”
—Mike Godwin, author of Cyber Rights: Defending Free Speech in the Digital Age

“A treasure trove of information that is a relief to find, a pleasure to read, and a snap to apply to dozens of your most pressing Internet legal questions.”
—Carol Darr, director of the Institute for Politics, Democracy and the Internet

“Doug Isenberg is the authority on all issues regarding Internet law. His insight is exceptional, his experience unsurpassed. This book is both a reference work and a bible, enlightening and showing the way—a quintessential, all-encompassing work for both the novice and the veteran.”
—Marc Adler, chairman and CEO, Macquarium Intelligent Communications


Doug Isenberg is an attorney and the founder of GigaLaw.com, an award-winning website about Internet law. He writes regularly as a columnist for The Wall Street Journal Online and CNET News.com and has represented numerous high-tech and Internet clients.

For more information about The GigaLaw Guide to Internet Law, visit: http://GigaLaw.com/guide

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Isenberg is a practicing attorney, speaker, and founder of GigaLaw.com, a web site about Internet law. His new work is written for those who need to understand the laws applicable to electronic commerce. Isenberg reviews the laws on copyright, patent, trademarks, privacy, free speech, contracts, and employment in the context of online business. He reports on the way the courts and administrative agencies are construing the law by featuring the facts and disposition of prominent cases. The examples illustrate how electronic businesses can structure themselves for compliance. There is discussion of Canadian and European Union privacy rules. Several chapters are written by coauthors with expertise in disciplines such as patent or employment law. This covers some of the same territory as Dianne J. Brinson's Internet Law and Business Handbook, but it is valuable for treating recent developments. Highly recommended for business collections. Joan Pedzich, Harris Beach LLP, Rochester, NY
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Think law is synonymous with soporific? Throw aside any and all preconceptions about legal parameters and restrictions and must-dos, because Atlanta-based attorney Isenberg--and proprietor of the five-star Gigalaw Web site--will educate, inform, and engage all comers. Each of the seven sections--copyright, domain names and trademarks, patent law, privacy, free speech, contract law, and employment law--begins with a case (usually a well-known plaintiff or defendant such as Playboy or Barnes and Noble), describes the bones of contention, and summarizes the lessons learned. Then, partly in question-and-answer format, partly in straight prose, he and his contributors talk about the Internet ramifications of that topic. In copyright, for instance, Webster's needs to take care with framing and linking. Intriguing factoids appear: about how elimination of spam and the First Amendment don't mix, Amazon.com's special "i-click" patent, and even new acronyms like COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998) and their meanings. An every-person's essential. Barbara Jacobs
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks; 1st. trade pbk. edn edition (October 22, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812991982
• ISBN-13: 978-0812991987
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #797,497 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cyberlaw Roadmap, October 29, 2002

By 

Andrew B. King (Ann Arbor, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: GigaLaw Guide to Internet Law (Paperback)

This book is a great introduction to the emerging issues of Internet-related law. Everything from copyright law, domain names and trademarks, patents, privacy, free speech, contracts, and employment law are covered in this latin- and lingo-free guide to Net law. Developers will be especially interested in the sections on copyright, domain names and trademarks, and contracts.

For example, hiring a design firm without a contract may mean that they own the copyright to your web site. The proper copyright notice must include the original year the work was published, not just the current one.

Relevant laws are cited and explained, including the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, The Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act, The Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy, and the "E-Signature" Act.

The book starts well, citing copyright (Playboy v. Sanfilippo) and cybersquatting (Electronics Boutique v. Zuccarini) case studies. I found myself chuckling at the audacity of the defendants in their brazen copying of Playboy's images and squatting trademarked domains.

The author and six expert contributors (many of which are on GigaLaw's Editorial Board) do a fine job highlighting major case law and issues that face developers (and lawyers) on the Internet today. While no substitute for hiring a lawyer, this book shows what to avoid, and what to do to protect yourself...

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't pay more than the cover price of this book - there are other books out there with more up-to-date info!, January 16, 2007

By 

Web Admin (Loveland, Co USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: GigaLaw Guide to Internet Law (Paperback)

I just received a copy of this book & had I known that the original price was just $17.95, I would not have paid so much money. Not only is this book overpriced, it is dated. Although there is some good information in this book, alot has happened since 2002 & there are better resources out there that are more current & don't cost a small fortune.
Buy the e-copy, or get something more current with just as much information like 'Issues in Internet Law'($17.71)

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Internet Law Book Available, November 29, 2004

By 

Rebecca N (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: GigaLaw Guide to Internet Law (Paperback)

Pros: Easy to read, comprehensive, good for law students, lawyers, and lay people alike! Read it, and you'll have complete understanding of current and past internet law.

Cons: the gigalaw.com website is more up to date.

As a law student, I took an internet course. Gigalaw Guide to Internet Law was, by far, my best resource. It wasn't an official text for the class, but I found it far more useful than the books we had to read. It supplied great examples to illustrate applicable law. I used it to study for exams, and it gave me complete coverage of all course topics.

Also, it really doesn't read like legalese. You could keep it on your coffee table for light reading.

If you are a business person who has to understand internet law, I highly recommend you read this book -- you'll learn all the same things that I learned in law school and will one day charge hundredss of dollars an hour to explain to you :) If you are a law student, this will serve as a great study guide.